 NMP-2007-1.3-2 Risk assessment of engineered nanoparticles on health and the environment
Technical content / scope: The understanding of the safety, environmental and human health implications of nanotechnology-based materials and products is important worldwide. Reinforced cooperation has been initiated on this matter with the USA and in particular between the European Commission and the USA Environmental Protection Agency. It is advantageous to share and harmonize the research effort to increase efficiency and prevent any duplication of effort, also since it addresses pre-competitive questions. This research will create a reliable and sound foundation for the assessment of the safety of nanotechnology-based products and encourage nanotechnological advances that can address the needs of citizens and contribute to sustainable development objectives. Projects under this call should be related to engineered nanoparticles and should address one or more topics in the following areas: hazard characterisation, exposure, toxicology, main endpoints of and health effects of engineered nanoparticles; testing; monitoring/detection of engineered nanoparticles in the various environments (excluding the development of equipment); environmental and biological fate, transport, and transformation of nanoparticles. The interdisciplinary research should contribute to better understanding of toxicokinetics, cellular and molecular mechanisms, behaviour and fate, bio-persistence, biokinetics, to understand fundamentally the exposure, behaviour, mechanisms, consequences and potential effects to various endpoints of nanoparticle-biological entities interactions.
Funding scheme: Small or medium-scale focused research projects
Specific features: Cooperation with the USA research teams is strongly recommended, possibly through balanced participation EU-USA in each project. EU funding for US participants is not foreseen within the present call. Gender issues should be considered, where appropriate.
Expected impact: (i) Better in vitro or in vivo methodologies for the regulatory demands for the safety assessment of nanotechnology products, (ii) better understanding of the impact of the nanoparticles on health, safety and the environment; (iii) future definition of appropriate measures, where needed; (iv) safe and cost-effective minimisation of the exposure of workers; (iv) sustainable and responsible development; (v) support to research and regulation; (vi) implementation of the European Commission’s Action Plan for Nanotechnology; (vii) reinforcement of the international dimension of European research within the 7th Framework Programme.
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